Former Raiders star Upshaw dies

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

NEW YORK (AFP) — Gene Upshaw, an 11-time all-star before going on to become executive director of the NFL's Players Association, died of cancer on Thursday. He was 63.

National Football League hall-of-famer passed away after a valiant struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Upshaw, a former left guard for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, was named an all-star 11 times in his 16-year career. He also was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987 - his first year of eligibility.

Upshaw was a member of the Oakland team that won the 1967 AFL Championship but lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II.

He would later win championships with Oakland in 1977 and again in 1984 following the team's move to Los Angeles.

His trio of appearances makes him the...